Maryland vs Pennsylvania: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Maryland or Pennsylvania?
- Overall, Pennsylvania is 7.0% less expensive than Maryland (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Maryland works out to about $69,700 in Pennsylvania, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 29.7% less in Pennsylvania. Goods are 3.1% lower and other services 1.8% lower.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $58,620 in Pennsylvania and $61,111 in Maryland (4.1% lower in Pennsylvania; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 85.9 in Johnstown, PA to 102.6 in Philadelphia, PA (Pennsylvania) and from 94.2 in Hagerstown, MD to 104.5 in Baltimore, MD (Maryland), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (6.8%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 29.7% lower in Pennsylvania than in Maryland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.0 | 97.6 |
| Goods | 102.5 | 99.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 121.1 | 85.1 |
| Utilities | 110.9 | 109.3 |
| Other services | 101.6 | 99.8 |
| Category | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania vs Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.0 | 97.6 | −7.0% |
| Goods | 102.5 | 99.4 | −3.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 121.1 | 85.1 | −29.7% |
| Utilities | 110.9 | 109.3 | −1.4% |
| Other services | 101.6 | 99.8 | −1.8% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $61,111 | $58,620 | −4.1% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.31 | $4.31 | 0.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Maryland | $75,000 | $69,700 | −7.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Central Atlantic region average (EIA has no separate Maryland figure). *Central Atlantic region average (EIA has no separate Pennsylvania figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Maryland
- Hagerstown, MD 94.2
- Salisbury, MD 95.6
- Lexington Park, MD 100.8
- Philadelphia, PA 102.6
- Baltimore, MD 104.5
- Washington, DC 108.9
Pennsylvania
- Johnstown, PA 85.9
- Altoona, PA 89.5
- Erie, PA 91.0
- Williamsport, PA 92.4
- Lebanon, PA 93.2
- Scranton, PA 93.6
- Chambersburg, PA 94.6
- Pittsburgh, PA 94.7
- Gettysburg, PA 95.4
- York, PA 96.0
- State College, PA 96.8
- Reading, PA 97.1
- Lancaster, PA 98.3
- Harrisburg, PA 98.7
- Allentown, PA 100.0
- Philadelphia, PA 102.6
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Maryland and Pennsylvania has narrowed since 2008: 9.7 points then, 7.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.8 | 99.2 |
| 2009 | 110.4 | 99.5 |
| 2010 | 108.4 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 109.3 | 98.4 |
| 2012 | 107.4 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 108.5 | 97.8 |
| 2014 | 107.9 | 97.2 |
| 2015 | 107.9 | 98.1 |
| 2016 | 107.2 | 97.8 |
| 2017 | 106.8 | 99.1 |
| 2018 | 106.3 | 98.2 |
| 2019 | 105.1 | 98.0 |
| 2020 | 106.4 | 97.7 |
| 2021 | 106.1 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 96.3 |
| 2023 | 104.6 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 105.0 | 97.6 |
Goods
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.8 | 101.8 |
| 2009 | 107.8 | 101.7 |
| 2010 | 104.0 | 99.9 |
| 2011 | 104.8 | 100.4 |
| 2012 | 103.6 | 99.7 |
| 2013 | 104.6 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 102.7 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 102.0 | 100.5 |
| 2016 | 102.4 | 100.3 |
| 2017 | 101.9 | 99.9 |
| 2018 | 102.4 | 99.7 |
| 2019 | 101.2 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 97.4 |
| 2021 | 103.5 | 95.3 |
| 2022 | 102.9 | 96.9 |
| 2023 | 103.2 | 98.4 |
| 2024 | 102.5 | 99.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 132.4 | 86.6 |
| 2009 | 134.6 | 86.8 |
| 2010 | 133.4 | 88.5 |
| 2011 | 135.5 | 88.7 |
| 2012 | 133.6 | 88.1 |
| 2013 | 137.4 | 89.0 |
| 2014 | 136.3 | 88.7 |
| 2015 | 131.5 | 88.9 |
| 2016 | 128.8 | 87.9 |
| 2017 | 127.7 | 87.9 |
| 2018 | 128.3 | 87.7 |
| 2019 | 128.3 | 86.5 |
| 2020 | 128.1 | 86.8 |
| 2021 | 124.2 | 86.7 |
| 2022 | 123.0 | 86.4 |
| 2023 | 119.9 | 85.8 |
| 2024 | 121.1 | 85.1 |
Utilities
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 123.9 | 109.0 |
| 2009 | 128.5 | 111.9 |
| 2010 | 114.4 | 110.3 |
| 2011 | 108.4 | 113.7 |
| 2012 | 105.9 | 110.1 |
| 2013 | 107.9 | 110.4 |
| 2014 | 102.9 | 102.3 |
| 2015 | 107.2 | 103.6 |
| 2016 | 114.1 | 105.3 |
| 2017 | 108.7 | 108.4 |
| 2018 | 103.0 | 111.4 |
| 2019 | 104.0 | 112.6 |
| 2020 | 104.6 | 109.0 |
| 2021 | 105.1 | 106.1 |
| 2022 | 102.1 | 109.8 |
| 2023 | 108.7 | 118.3 |
| 2024 | 110.9 | 109.3 |
Other services
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.0 | 100.8 |
| 2009 | 104.1 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 103.9 | 101.0 |
| 2011 | 105.0 | 99.4 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 103.0 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 103.7 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 105.1 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 103.9 | 98.8 |
| 2017 | 103.8 | 101.5 |
| 2018 | 102.8 | 99.6 |
| 2019 | 101.1 | 101.2 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 101.1 |
| 2021 | 102.4 | 99.2 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 100.8 | 99.4 |
| 2024 | 101.6 | 99.8 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $58,620 in Pennsylvania, $61,111 in Maryland
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Pennsylvania | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $50,570 | $46,939 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $49,411 | $45,776 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $50,629 | $47,072 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $51,117 | $48,362 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $51,751 | $49,325 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $49,964 | $49,047 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $50,722 | $50,343 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $52,499 | $51,702 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $53,830 | $52,744 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $54,690 | $52,479 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $55,341 | $54,492 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $56,850 | $55,458 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $58,410 | $59,098 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $59,999 | $61,217 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $58,193 | $58,304 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $59,922 | $58,027 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $61,111 | $58,620 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Maryland
- Cost of living in Pennsylvania
- Reverse: moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.